Royal New Zealand Ballet Debuts Brand New ‘Nutcracker’ This Summer

Summer 2025 will be celebrated with an eagerly anticipated new production of the world’s most beloved ballet classic, The Nutcracker from the Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB). Central to Christmas memories for generations of audiences, The Nutcracker is a timeless celebration of family, fantasy and growing up, where ‘home for Christmas’ is the most powerful magic of all.

A uniquely kiwi touch transports our audiences to the nostalgia of childhood holidays at the beach in Act I, before being carried in Act II to the snowy Southern Alps, where we encounter a fairytale Kingdom of the Sweets–some of which may look quite familiar.

This new production will be created by RNZB Artistic Director Ty King-Wall, with set and costume designs by Tracy Grant Lord (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Firebird), lighting design by Jon Buswell (Swan Lake, The Firebird, Hansel & Gretel) and visual effects by POW Studios (The Firebird, Hansel & Gretel), all driven by the timeless magic of Tchaikovsky’s wonderful music.

The Royal New Zealand Ballet’s The Nutcracker embarks on a nationwide tour, kicking off at Wellington’s St James Theatre from October 30 to November 8, 2025. The production then moves to Christchurch’s Isaac Theatre Royal from November 12 to 16, followed by performances at Dunedin’s Regent Theatre on November 21–22. The tour continues at Napier’s Municipal Theatre on November 28–29, before heading to Auckland’s Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre at the Aotea Centre from December 4 to 13. The season concludes at Palmerston North’s Regent on Broadway on December 19–20. Live orchestra will accompany performances in Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland.

Book now at https://rnzb.org.nz/show/the-nutcracker

Soloist Katherine Minor as Clara for The Ryman Healthcare Season of ‘The Nutcracker’, Photo credit Ross Brown